Chasing The Stars || JJPOPE

SEVEN

THE FOUR TEENAGERS in that backyard all had one thing in common — they were all shocked. Pope Heyward and JJ Maybank had been the last people John B had expected to see there, and they were hanging out? Together? He couldn't believe it.

Meanwhile, JJ and Pope couldn't understand why John B was with Roxy Cameron of all people on this Earth. Why would he ever hang out with a Cameron voluntarily?

And then there was Roxy, who didn't quite understand why there were two teenage boys in her family's pool at nine o'clock at night.

"What are you two idiots doing here?" Asked John B, walking towards the pool, Roxy trailing behind.

"We could ask you the same thing." Pope told John B, quickly making his way over to the side of the pool. JJ's confused expression quickly changed to a glare — he suddenly remembered why he disliked the Heyward boy so much. But he only sighed sharply, following behind him and out of the pool.

Once Pope was out of the pool, dripping onto the concrete beneath their feet, John B turned to him, "Pope, seriously. What the fuck are you two doing here?"

"None of your business." JJ spat, now standing behind Pope, "Let's go, Pope."

Pope's eyebrows raised slightly as he glanced back at JJ. He was surprised JJ had been speaking to him as if they were civil — like they were on the same level. JJ made eye contact with Pope, silently telling the Heyward boy that he wanted to leave.

Somehow, Pope caught on, "Um... I-I'll tell you later, JB." 

"Pope..."

"Come back!" Roxy pitched in as Pope and JJ began running from the property after hurriedly grabbing their clothes. Roxy attempted to follow, but John B put his large hand on her rather small shoulder. She turned to look at him, only to see him weakly shake his head. Roxy let out a deep sigh.

Pope kept glancing back, expecting to see his best friend and the Cameron girl chasing after the two, but all he saw was the darkness of the night. Meanwhile, JJ never turned back, keeping his eyes to the road before them. Out of breath, a few feet behind JJ, Pope said, "JJ... we should stop."

At this, JJ's run slowly became a walk. He waited a few lingering moments for Pope to catch up to him, rolling his eyes, "First time being chased, Einstein?" 

"Technically, we weren't being chased." Pope informed the blonde, beginning to walk ahead. It didn't take JJ long at all to catch up, the two now walking side by side. They walked down the roads of the lavish Figure Eight neighborhood, somehow feeling irritated by the luxury of it all. These people truly didn't understand how lucky they were.

"Know-it-all." JJ muttered, beginning to slip his sweatshirt back over his exposed skin.

Pope watched him, eyebrows raised before saying, "I'm not a know-it-all, I just happen to know more than you do." Pope too began pulling his shirt back over his head, JJ's turn to now watch.

JJ scoffed, "Well, obviously. You're my fucking tutor."

Pope couldn't help but chuckle, looking down at the ground with a smile, watching his filthy sneakers advance against the concrete. JJ looked over, his lips twitching a bit, his body at constant war with his hearts longing to smile back. He only sighed as Pope looked back up, JJ somehow feeling as if that moment had lasted a small lifetime. 

The two soon neared the gates, seeing Harry still on duty. Pope offered him a weak smile and JJ waved awkwardly, earning a grimace and an eyeroll from the older man. He clearly doesn't get paid enough for such things. 

They exited the neighborhood without a word spoken, hopping into the Heyward family's rusty truck. Pope paused before sticking the key into the ignition as JJ looked out the window, waiting for the car to begin to move -- but it didn't. His eyebrows furrowed, causing him to turn to Pope in confusion, "What?"